* YuzuHiragi at the Duel College arena, things have been...kinda weird the last couple days. Yuya's injury has cast a weird tension over the league, but nonetheless, there's a buzz for the Play-In duel to see who will replace him in the top 8.
* YuzuHiragi is nervous as she goes to the ring for the duel...part of her feels guilty for dueling to take Yuya's spot like this. But Yuya's already told her he'll be rooting for her. So she knows she has to try her hardest.
* @[Masumi] waiting for Yuzu is Masumi, already standing at the opposite end. If she's been affected by the recent tension that's fallen on the league, she's not showing it.
<YuzuHiragi> <Yaiba> GO, MASUMI! <Hokuto> SHOW THEM WHAT LDS IS MADE OF!
* YuzuHiragi oh yeah, those two jokers are cheering for Masumi.
* YuzuHiragi stares across the ring at Masumi. She lets out a breath. 'You're from LDS, huh...'
* YuzuHiragi 'Well...I have to win this duel so I can get into the top 8! Then I'll show Ryozanpaku...! I'll show them not to underestimate our school's dueling again!' She activates her Duel Disk.
* @[Masumi] ... okay, yeah, she can't help but smile a bit at the two jokers, but that quickly gets put to the side when she sees Yuzu activate her disk, as her own follows suit.
<YuzuHiragi> [ACTION FIELD: CRYSTAL CORRIDOR]
* YuzuHiragi the Action Field builds itself around them...a huge corridor that appears to be made of solid, glistening, reflective crystal.
<YuzuHiragi> I'm ready!
* YuzuHiragi waves a hand out. "Duelists locked in battle!"
<@[Masumi]> Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters! *waving her hand out as well, stepping forward*
<YuzuHiragi> They storm through this field!
<@[Masumi]> Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling!
<YuzuHiragi> ACTION...
<YuzuHiragi> DUEL! (8000 LP)
<@[Masumi]> Duel! (8000 LP)
* @[Masumi] the cards scatter all around the field, as Masumi looks at Yuzu from where she's standing, sizing her up.
<YuzuHiragi> I'll go first!
<YuzuHiragi> I summon Solo the Melodious Songstress! (1600/1000) Turn end!
<@[Masumi]> Draw! *she draws her card, giving one more look at Yuzu... before smirking a bit*
<@[Masumi]> I set one card. Summon, Gem-Knight Emerald! (1800 ATK) *a green-armored warrior appears in a gust of wind, striking a pose* I'll move right into battle! Emerald! Attack Solo the Melodious Songstress!
* @[Masumi] Emerald quickly descends upon Solo, striking her with the arm guard.
* YuzuHiragi Solo is smacked and destroyed (7800 LP).
<YuzuHiragi> Solo's effect! When she's destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, I can special summon one Melodious monster from my deck!
<YuzuHiragi> Come to the stage! MOZARTA THE MELODIOUS MAETSRA!
* YuzuHiragi a much stronger fairy appears, twirling a baton in her hands. (2600/2000)
<@[Masumi]> Hnm? Then I'll go ahead and match that. Main phase 2! I activate Absorb Fusion, adding Gem-Knight Garnet to my hand from the deck. But! That isn't all it's going to do! *a light appears behind her* I'll Fusion Summon, banishing the Gem-Knight Emerald on my field, and the Gem-Turtle in my hand!
<@[Masumi]> The glimmering green that brings luck! *Emerald vanishes into the light* And the shining turtle of stone! *a card vanishes from her hand as well* The swirling light combines into a new brilliance! Fusion Summon! *she takes the card out from her extra deck, and places it onto the field* Level 8! Gem-Knight Zirconia! (2900 ATK)
<YuzuHiragi> A fusion summon...!
<YuzuHiragi> So...you're in LDS' Fusion Course!
* @[Masumi] a much larger knight appears, slamming together the crystal-ended fists, before settling on the field. Masumi brushes a hand through her hair, giving off a smug look.
<@[Masumi]> You only just noticed?
<YuzuHiragi> Tch...
<@[Masumi]> I end my turn.
* YuzuHiragi 'Well I definitely won't lose in a battle of fusion duelists...!' "It's my turn! DRAW!"
<YuzuHiragi> Mozarta the Melodious Maestra's effect! I can special summon one LIGHT Fairy-type monster from my hand! I Special Summon Soprano the Melodious Songstress! (1400/1400)
<YuzuHiragi> And...I activate the spell card Ties of the Brethren!
<YuzuHiragi> (oh wait, rewind.)
<YuzuHiragi> Soprano's effect, when she's special summoned, she adds one Melodious monster in my graveyard to my hand! *Yuzu's deck ejects Solo and she puts it back in her hand.*
<YuzuHiragi> And I special summon Soprano the Melodious Diva from my hand! *Another fairy appears, this one yellow skinned in a blue dress (1200 ATK)*
<YuzuHiragi> And...I activate the spell card Ties of the Brethren!
<@[Masumi]> Preparing for a Fusion Summon, right?
<YuzuHiragi> This lets me pay 2000 life points (5800 LP) to special summon two monsters with the same level, type and attribut --
* YuzuHiragi pauses, Masumi's words interrupting her.
* YuzuHiragi 'She already knows...of course she does, I duel here every day, but...then why didn't I notice that she's a fusion duelist too...?'
* YuzuHiragi 'Was I just not paying attention...?'
<@[Masumi]> *she lets Yuzu ponder for a moment* It looks like I was right. Your eyes are clouded.
<YuzuHiragi> Wh-what?!
<YuzuHiragi> What's that supposed to mean?!
<@[Masumi]> It means you lack brilliance. You're letting your thoughts be muddied by things unrelated to this duel, and your eyes reflect that.
* YuzuHiragi blinks a couple times. Something about that seems to shake her...but she quickly shakes her head.
<YuzuHiragi> I-I'll show you just how focused I am on this duel!
<YuzuHiragi> Ties of the Brethren's effect! I special summon Honest and Tamtam the Melodious Diva! *Honest appears on Yuzu's field, stretching its wings and another fairy with a big gong and a hammer to strike it appears in defense position.*
<YuzuHiragi> (1100/1900) (2000 DEF)
<YuzuHiragi> Tamtam's effect! When she's special summoned, I can add Polymerization to my hand! *Her deck ejects a card and she shows it - Fusion Substitute.* This card is treated as Polymerization.
<YuzuHiragi> And Honest's effect! *Honest turns into a beam of light and returns to Yuzu's hand.*
<YuzuHiragi> During the turn I activate Ties of the Brethren I can't conduct my battle phase...so I end my turn. Sonata's effect increases the ATK and DEF of each of my Melodious monsters by 500!
<YuzuHiragi> [Motzarta: 3100 ATK] [Soprano: 1900 ATK] [Sonata: 1700 ATK] [Tamtam: 2500 DEF]
<@[Masumi]> Hnm... Fine. I draw!
<@[Masumi]> First! I summon Gem-Armadillo! (1700 ATK) *an armored armadillo appears, with amber gemstones spotted across it's body* This lets me add one Gem-Knight monster from my deck to my hand. So I add Gem-Knight Tourmaline!
* @[Masumi] the card slips out as she takes it, the deck shuffling.
<@[Masumi]> Now, activate... Gem-Knight Fusion!
* YuzuHiragi 'I couldn't attack...but neither can she! With honest in my hand, she'd just destroy her own monster!'
<@[Masumi]> I fuse the Gem-Knight Obsidian and Gem-Knight Tourmaline from my hand!
<@[Masumi]> *the light reappears from behind her, as the two monsters appear* The secret stone enveloped in lightning! *Tourmaline dissolves* The sharp blackness! *Obsidian dissolves as well* The swirling light combines into a new brilliance! Fusion Summon! The striking brilliance! Gem-Knight Prismaura! (2450 ATK)
* @[Masumi] a knight appears from the light, shield and lance at ready. red cape sweeping the crystal floor.
<@[Masumi]> Obsidian's effect activates. When it's sent from the hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Normal Level 4 or lower Gem-Knight from my Graveyard. Return! Gem-Knight Tourmaline! (1600 ATK) *the yellow knight appears, conducting electricity between their hands*
* @[Masumi] clearly the field is nothing you can't handle, Yuzu. But then.
<@[Masumi]> Now, banish Obsidian from the Graveyard!
<@[Masumi]> I add Gem-Knight Fusion back into my hand!
* @[Masumi] the card slips out of the graveyard, as she takes it, activating it immediately.
<YuzuHiragi> !!
<@[Masumi]> Gem-Knight Fusion, activate!
<YuzuHiragi> Again?!
<@[Masumi]> *giving that smirk again.* I fuse Tourmaline from my field, and the Gem-Knight Garnet in my hand! *once again, the light appears, reflecting off of the crystaline surroundings, as Garnet appears.* The secret stone enveloped in lightning! *Tourmaline dissolves* The stone that embodies the red truth! *Garnet dissolves as well* The swirling light combines into a new brilliance! Fusion Summon!
<@[Masumi]> The burning courage! Gem-Knight Citrine! (2200 ATK) *a new knight appears, their hands red hot from molten heat, the sword looking more like a slab of lava than any sort of blade.*
<@[Masumi]> Then once again! I banish Garnet from my Graveyard to add Gem-Knight Fusion back to my hand. Prismaura's effect!
<YuzuHiragi> Two fusion summons on one turn....!
<@[Masumi]> I discard one Gem-Knight card, in this case, Gem-Knight Fusion, to destroy one face-up card on the field. I choose Mozarta! Reflective Strike! *she discards the card, as electricity crackles around Prismaura's lance. They swing it down, sending off a wave of electricity all around, as it reflects off of the crystals, before converging onto Mozarta*
* YuzuHiragi the electricity sounds Mozarta. The fairy screams as it's struck, before shattering. Yuzu grimaces.
<YuzuHiragi> M-Mozarta...!
<@[Masumi]> Now... Battle Phase!
* YuzuHiragi braces herself and puts a hand on one card in her hand.
<@[Masumi]> That won't work.
<@[Masumi]> Citrine! Attack Soprano! *Citrine moves forward, blade ready. the sheer heat emanating from them feels a bit overwhelming.*
* YuzuHiragi a wave of heat pressures Soprano...and Yuzu as well. She brings her hand up over her face. Soprano gets cleaved in twain.
<YuzuHiragi> (5500 LP)
<@[Masumi]> Next! Zirconia, attack Tamtam! *Zirconia is an example of what to do when you have only a hammer. or in this case, crystal-ended fists that're only good for crushing. Tamtam is now learning this, as Zirconia steps forward, bringing down it's arms*
* YuzuHiragi Tamtam gets crushed, gong and all. Yuzu's down to just one monster, now, after having four.
<YuzuHiragi> Gh...
* @[Masumi] meanwhile, Masumi herself is up to 4. The entire situation reversed.
<@[Masumi]> I end my turn.
* YuzuHiragi shakes her head. 'I-I'm not beaten yet, though!' "Draw!"
<YuzuHiragi> I summon Solo the Melodious Songstress! (1600/1200)
<YuzuHiragi> Then, I activate Fusion Substitute! This card will fuse two monsters on my field! I fuse Solo and Soprano!
* YuzuHiragi spreads her arms out as her monsters float up on either side of her. "Angel's Song! Noble Resonance! With the raise of the conductor's baton, gather your power!" She brings her hands together, then pulls them down.
<YuzuHiragi> FUSION SUMMON!
<YuzuHiragi> Come to the stage! SCHUBERTA THE MELODIOUS MAESTRA!
* YuzuHiragi a new Melodious appears, this one a conductor with long flowing orange hair and an orange and black dress. (2400/2000)
* @[Masumi] there's one of them...
<YuzuHiragi> Schuberta's effect! Once per turn, I can target up to three cards in either graveyard and banish them to increase Schuberta's ATK by 200 for each card!
* YuzuHiragi points. "Your graveyard has three cards in it! I banish all three!"
* YuzuHiragi Schuberta flicks its baton at Masumi's graveyard,
<@[Masumi]> Hnm. Seems like even in your lack of brilliance, you can still do something that's somewhat impressive. *she's not even phased as her three cards disappear-- Gem-Knight Fusion, Garnet, and Absorb Fusion*
<YuzuHiragi> T-tch...!
<YuzuHiragi> Don't forget, with Gem-Knight Fusion banished, you can't recover it anymore! I've blocked off your fusion summons now!
<@[Masumi]> Maybe. But there's more than one way to do a Fusion Summon.
<YuzuHiragi> And now...I'm gonna get rid of the source of your destruction effect! When Schuberta declares an attack, I can discard this card from my hand! HONEST!
* YuzuHiragi discards it. Two huge angelic wings spread from Schuberta's back. "Schuberta gains the ATK of the monster she's battling!"
<YuzuHiragi> Schuberta attacks Prismaura! HONESTY WAVE OF THE GREAT!
* YuzuHiragi Schuberta flicks up its baton then swings it down, sending a huge beam of light at Prismaura.
* @[Masumi] Prismaura defends itself, and while Masumi does glance around for a moment... she stands her ground, as Prismaura takes the hit, shattering and leaving only gem-like prism behind. ... but as the light fades, you notice a card's flipped up, Yuzu. As the prism starts to crack.
<@[Masumi]> Activate! Brilliant Spark!
* YuzuHiragi 's eyes widen.
<@[Masumi]> When a face-up Gem-Knight monster I control is destroyed by your attack or effect, I can target one of those destroyed monsters, and then... inflict damage equal to it's original attack to you!
<@[Masumi]> Prismaura, strike! *the prism fully shatters, as a wave of electricity from it hits you, Yuzu*
<YuzuHiragi> A-aaah!
* YuzuHiragi the electricity hits Yuzu hard. She stumbles backwards, dropping to a knee. (3050 LP)
<YuzuHiragi> G-gh...I wound up taking almost as much damage...
* @[Masumi] meanwhile, Masumi's sitting at 5000 LP
<YuzuHiragi> ...I activate Fusion Recycling Plant!
<YuzuHiragi> During my end phase...this'll add a monster I used as fusion material back to my hand! I add Solo the Melodious Songstress!
* YuzuHiragi lets out a breath. Schuberta's ATK is still higher than anything on Masumi's field now...
<YuzuHiragi> Turn end...
<@[Masumi]> Draw.
<@[Masumi]> I discard Gem-Knight Lazuli from my hand, to bring Brilliant Spark back! *she discards her only card, before grabbing one that slips out* I set one card, and switch Armadillo, Citrine, and Zirconia to defense. (500 DEF) (1950 DEF) (2500 DEF)
<@[Masumi]> I end my turn!
* @[Masumi] this is clearly your chance while she's on the defensive.
* YuzuHiragi draws.
* YuzuHiragi 'If I attack...she'll definitely activate Brilliant Spark again...and all her monsters are in defense, so I won't even deal damage...'
* YuzuHiragi 'Maybe...maybe I should wait...?' She looks at her hand. She pauses. She thinks about Yuya, being attacked by Isao...it makes her grind her teeth.
* YuzuHiragi The truth is, she doesn't want to wait. She wants to win this duel as soon as possible, and go on to the top 8 and fight Ryozanpaku.
<YuzuHiragi> I activate Fusion Recycling Plant's effect!
<YuzuHiragi> I discard Photon Lead from my hand to grab this from my deck! *Her deck ejects a card, she flips it around - Polymerization.*
<YuzuHiragi> I activate Polymerization!
<YuzuHiragi> I'm fusing from my hand, Solo the Melodious Songstress and Shopina the Melodious Maestra!
<YuzuHiragi> Supreme voice! Angel's song! With the guidance of the conductor's baton, gather your power!
* YuzuHiragi brings her hands together and pulls them down. "FUSION SUMMON!"
<YuzuHiragi> Come to the stage! Sing your song of victory! BLOOM DIVA THE MELODIOUS CHOIR!
* YuzuHiragi a new Melodious blooms from a flower on Yuzu's field, revealing a small fairy sitting in the center of the flower with a scarf around its body. (1000/2000)
* @[Masumi] she has that look that says, ah, yes, here's the one I was expecting to show up.
<YuzuHiragi> Bloom Diva's effect! When it battles a special summoned monster, that monster is destroyed and my opponent takes damage equal to the difference between Bloom Diva's ATK and that monster's!
<YuzuHiragi> Attack Zirconia! REFLECT SHOOOOOOOOUT!
* YuzuHiragi Bloom Diva blows a green wind at Zirconia.
* @[Masumi] Zirconia takes the hit, and a moment passes, before the vibrations from Bloom Diva's wind increase in intensity, causing Zirconia to shatter. ... leaving the zirconia crystals. Again, a card flips up.
<@[Masumi]> Brilliant Spark!
<@[Masumi]> Zirconia, strike! *the crystals shatter, and while Masumi goes down to 3100 LP, the parts of the zirconia hit you, Yuzu.*
* YuzuHiragi braces herself this time. It doesn't help, she gets knocked right on to her butt by the backlash of Brilliant Spark.
<YuzuHiragi> Ngh... (150 LP)
<YuzuHiragi> S...Schuberta attacks Citrine...! Wave of the Great!
* YuzuHiragi Schuberta sends a wave of wind down at Citrine.
* @[Masumi] Citrine guards, but the wind's force causes them to cool down and shatter.
* YuzuHiragi 'I took a lot of damage...but I'm almost through! I'll break down her defenses and finish this off on the next turn!'
<YuzuHiragi> T-turn end! Fusion Recycling Plant returns Solo to my hand! *She gets back up as Solo is added to her hand.*
<@[Masumi]> Hnmn... Draw! *she draws her card, a visual effect going off that makes a string of light appear from her motion. She looks at the card she drew... and smiles. it's... not a good smile for you, Yuzu.* You probably thought you could finish this next turn, right? Sorry, but like I said: There's more than one way to do a Fusion Summon.
<YuzuHiragi> ...!
* YuzuHiragi 'Did she draw another copy of Gem Knight Fusion?'
<@[Masumi]> Activate! Brilliant Fusion! This card lets me Fusion Summon... using monsters from the deck as the materials!
<YuzuHiragi> F-from your DECK?!
<@[Masumi]> I send them! Gem-Knight Lapis, and Gem-Knight Lazuli! *the light behind her seems more brilliant than usual, as two monsters appear* The blue stone with the secret power! Become the light and appear! *both Lapis and Lazuli dissolve, as she takes the card out* Fusion Summon! Level 5, Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli!
* @[Masumi] a feminine looking monster in robes appears, blue gemstones glinting on her, as she opens up her arms. However... the ATK score comes up as (0)
<YuzuHiragi> ...0 ATK?!
<@[Masumi]> Brilliant Fusion lets me Fusion Summon using monsters from the deck, but in exchange, it reduces the monster's ATK and DEF scores to 0! But... for this, Lady Lapis Lazuli doesn't need any strength, to defeat you. I add Gem-Knight Lapis to my hand, using Lazuli's effect. *she takes the card from the Graveyard* And then... Lady Lapis Lazuli's effect!
<@[Masumi]> I send Gem-Knight Sapphire from my deck as the cost! Lady Lapis Lazuli's effect allows me to inflict damage to you! 500, times the number of Special Summoned monsters on the field!
<YuzuHiragi> ...!
<@[Masumi]> The very essence of our monsters will be turned against you!
* YuzuHiragi even one is enough to finish her...'I-I need an Action Card!'
* YuzuHiragi looks around the hallway, anywhere, for an Action Card. Her eyes widen. She spots one on the ground in front of her. 'There!'
* YuzuHiragi dives forward to grab the card...only for her hand to smack into solid rock.
<YuzuHiragi> Wha...?!
<@[Masumi]> ... Like I said. Your eyes are clouded. Even your own vision is affected by it.
* YuzuHiragi 's eyes widen. The card in front of her...isn't in front of her at all. She was looking at a reflection on the stone pillar. The actual card was sitting behind her.
<@[Masumi]> Go! Lady Lapis Lazuli! Marine Wave! *Lapis Lazuli gathers up energy from herself, but also from Bloom Diva and Schuberta, creating a glittering blue wave. Which then comes right at you, Yuzu.*
* YuzuHiragi can't turn in time. The blue wave gets across the field and engulfs Yuzu.
<YuzuHiragi> A-aaaaaaaahhhh!!
<YuzuHiragi> (0000 LP - DEFEAT)
<YuzuHiragi> [WINNER: MASUMI]
* YuzuHiragi is on her hands and knees after the wave washes away...and the field starts to fade.
* @[Masumi] she brushes her hand through her hair again, as her monsters, and the field, both vanish. She's about as satisfied as she'll get from that.
* YuzuHiragi it's only just starting to sink in...she lost.
* @[Masumi] stares at Yuzu for a moment. Before turning around.
* YuzuHiragi grabs her head with both hands. Masumi's words echo through her head. Her eyes are clouded...was that true? Either way...her path to the championship is closed off, here. She lets out a frustrated groan and sinks down, her head bumping against the floor.
<@[Masumi]> ... Hmnm. Someone like you, who doesn't shine... Doesn't need to be in the finals. I'll make sure to show LDS's own strength against Duel Academy and Ryozanpaku. *and she walks away, leaving you with that as the extra weight, Yuzu.*